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Only a handful of competitions can captivate an audience through 45 minutes of ceremony before the first point is even decided.

Yet the complex rituals unfolding in a small clay ring - mostly preserved for hundreds of years - succeeded in doing so.

Discover the Major Sumo Competition

This multi-day tournament at the Royal Albert Hall features four dozen top-tier sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose earliest records dates back to the first century BC.

London's historic performance space has been totally redesigned, complete with a elaborate suspended canopy hanging above the dohyō.

Ancient Traditions Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the competitors, known as rikishi, perform their foot stomping to drive away negative energies, and where they clap to attract the divine beings.

Above all this historical practice, a giant, revolving LED screen - that would fit perfectly at an professional sports event - offers the crowd all the statistics and footage they could want.

Global Fans Embrace Sumo

For one dedicated fan, it was a "chance online clip" that first caught her attention a couple of years ago.

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of specialized online content for training facilities, where wrestlers live and train, starting their day early to train, followed by a nutritious chankonabe and then an afternoon nap - all in the effort toward gaining weight.

From Edinburgh, Another Perspective

Julia and her partner Cezar discovered sumo through a established path: a visit to the country six years ago.

"We saw it as a typical visitor experience, but we actually developed passion for the sport," says Julia.

"From there on, we tried to find communities, materials, just to deepen our understanding about it," adds Cezar.

Rare Opportunity

Traveling to Asia is almost the only way to see a top-flight sumo tournament.

This week's event marks only the second instance the tournament has appeared in the capital - the initial occasion was in 1991.

Even visiting the country isn't certain of getting a seat, with current times seeing sold-out events.

First-Hand Experience

For multiple fans, the current event represents the first time they have seen live sumo - and it exceeds expectations.

"Seeing it up close, you get a feeling of velocity and the force which you can't experience on TV," says Caspar Eliot. "Their size is impressive."

The Matches

To achieve victory, one competitor needs to push another out of the ring or to the floor using raw power.

The most use one of dual approaches to achieve this, often in split seconds - thrusting, or wrestling.

Either way, the noise of the two athletes meeting in the first moment of the match reverberates around the venue.

Premium Seating

The cushions right next to the competition area are of course extremely sought-after - but also, a bit risky.

During one recent bout, a large wrestler tumbled into the audience - perhaps making those in slightly cheaper seats feel relieved.

Organizational Issues

Of course, the dimensions of the rikishi is one of the primary elements most people think of when they contemplate wrestling.

The facility's operators revealed they "were required to locate and acquire reinforced furniture which can withstand 200kg in weight."

But sumo - for all its successful competitions - is not without its challenges behind the scenes.

Coming Obstacles

Perhaps the rigorous lifestyle of a sumo wrestler doesn't look as appealing as it once might have.

Its popularity among the younger generation is also being challenged by different athletic pursuits, while Japan's falling birthrate will not help.

Worldwide Following

Not that any of this has worried fans in London.

"Witnessing these custom and formality that is part of sumo is quite special," one enthusiast notes. "Today, watching it directly, you feel like you are more involved."

For other enthusiastic fans, the drama "made it so incredible" - as did interacting with the other fans.

"Leaving a particularly focused online community and being able to see all these sumo fans live and being able to chat with other people who are similarly enthusiastic as we are - it was worth every penny."